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| United States Patent |
5,058,762
|
|
Blaushild
, et al.
|
October 22, 1991
|
Shipping device for heater unit assembly
Abstract
A shipping device for a heater unit assembly (23), the heater unit assembly
(23) including a cylindrical wall (25) and a top plate (31) secured to the
cylindrical wall (25) and having a flange portion which projects radially
beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical wall (25), and the shipping
device including: a cylindrical container (3) having a closed bottom (13);
a support member (47) secured to the container (3) and having an inwardly
directed flange for supporting the flange portion of the top plate (31); a
supplemental supporting system (1) for positioning the heater unit
assembly (23) in the container (3) at a spaced relation from the inner
surface and bottom wall (13) of the container (3); a cover (15) for
closing the top of the container (3); and a container supporting structure
(5,7,8) supporting the container (3) in a manner to permit the container
(3) to be moved, relative to the supporting structure (5,7,8 ), between a
vertical position for loading and unloading the assembly (23) and a
horizontal position for transport of the assembly (23). A seal (57) is
interposed between the container (3) and the cover (15) for sealing the
interior of the container (3) from the environment. An abutment member
(41) is mounted on the container supporting structure (5,7,8) for
supporting the container bottom (13), when the container (3) is in the
vertical position, to prevent the container (3) from moving past the
vertical position in the direction away from the horizontal position, and
a retainer member (55) is secured within the cover (15) for retaining the
assembly top plate (31) in contact with the support member (47) when the
cover (15) closes the top of the container (3).
| Inventors:
|
Blaushild; Ronald M. (Export, PA);
Abbott; Stephan L. (Monroeville, PA);
Miller; Phillip E. (Greensburg, PA);
Shaffer; Robert (Swissvale, PA)
|
| Assignee:
|
The United States of America as represented by the United States (Washington, DC)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
368498 |
| Filed:
|
June 19, 1989 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
220/378; 248/676 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B65D 053/00 |
| Field of Search: |
220/378
206/583,592
248/676,608,130,133,311.2
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4465201 | Aug., 1984 | Chalfant, Jr. | 220/378.
|
| 4541537 | Sep., 1985 | Sailor | 220/378.
|
| 4574955 | Mar., 1986 | Camossi | 206/583.
|
| 4699293 | Oct., 1987 | Duchrow | 220/378.
|
| 4714228 | Dec., 1987 | Blaushild | 248/608.
|
| 4719892 | Jan., 1988 | Lopez-Crevillen | 220/378.
|
| 4739899 | Apr., 1988 | Thompson et al. | 220/378.
|
| 4758402 | Jul., 1988 | Schukey et al. | 220/378.
|
| 4815630 | Mar., 1989 | Jenson et al. | 220/378.
|
Primary Examiner: Ramirez; Ramon O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Possessky; E. F.
Goverment Interests
This invention was made under government contract, and the Federal
Government may have rights in the subject invention.
Claims
What is claimed:
1. In a shipping device for a heater unit assembly, the heater unit
assembly including a cylindrical wall having an outer surface and a top
plate secured to the cylindrical wall and having a flange portion which
projects radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical
wall, and the shipping device including: a cylindrical container having an
inner side surface, an open top and a closed bottom; a support member
secured to the container and having a radially inwardly directed flange
for supporting the flange portion of the top plate; a supplemental
supporting system for positioning the heater unit assembly in the
container at a spaced relation from the inner surface and bottom wall of
the container; a cover for closing the top of the container; and container
supporting means supporting the container in a manner to permit the
container to be moved, relative to the supporting means, between a
vertical position for loading and unloading the assembly and a horizontal
position for transport of the assembly, the improvement comprising seal
means interposed between said container and said cover for sealing the
interior of said container from the environment, wherein said seal means
comprise an O-ring of resilient material and said cover has a radially
outwardly extending flange which is supported by said support member when
said cover closes the top of said container and said support member has a
groove receiving said O-ring at a location facing said cover flange.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a retainer member
secured within said cover for retaining the assembly top plate in contact
with said support member when said cover closes the top of said container.
3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said retainer member is an
annular plate secured to said cover.
4. A device as defined in claim 3 further comprising abutment means mounted
on said container supporting means for supporting said bottom of said
container, when said container is in the vertical position, in order to
prevent said container from moving past the vertical position in the
direction away from the horizontal position.
5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said abutment means comprise a
horizontal beam.
6. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said container supporting means
comprise pivot means defining a horizontal axis about which said container
pivots during movement between the horizontal and vertical positions and
said abutment means are disposed to the side of the pivot axis which is
opposite the side to which said container pivots during movement to the
horizontal position.
7. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said abutment means comprise a
horizontal beam.
8. In a shipping device for a heater unit assembly, the heater unit
assembly including a cylindrical wall having an outer surface and a top
plate secured to the cylindrical wall and having a flange portion which
projects radially outwardly beyond the outer surface of the cylindrical
wall, and the shipping device including: a cylindrical container having an
inner side surface, an open top and a closed bottom; a support member
secured to the container and having a radially inwardly directed flange
for supporting the flange portion of the top plate; a supplemental
supporting system for positioning the heater unit assembly in the
container at a spaced relation from the inner surface and bottom wall of
the container; a cover for closing the top of the container; and container
supporting means supporting the container in a manner to permit the
container to be moved, relative to the supporting means, between a
vertical position for loading and unloading the assembly and a horizontal
position for transport of the assembly, the improvement comprising seal
means interposed between said container and said cover for sealing the
interior of said container from the environment, and a retainer member
secured within said cover for retaining the assembly top plate in contact
with said support member when said cover closes the top of said container.
9. A device as defined in claim 8 further comprising abutment means mounted
on said container supporting means for supporting said bottom of said
container, when said container is in the vertical position, in order to
prevent said container from moving past the vertical position in the
direction away from the horizontal position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following applications disclose subject matter which is related to the
present invention. Since none of these applications have as yet been
assigned a serial number, they are identified by title, and the
Westinghouse Electric Corporation Docket Number:
MODULAR ANNEALING APPARATUS FOR IN SITU REACTOR VESSEL ANNEALING AND
RELATED METHOD OF ASSEMBLY--54,690
WATER FILLED TANKS FOR TEMPORARY SHIELDING OF REACTOR VESSEL INTERNALS AND
METHOD OF ASSEMBLY--54,691
COFFER DAM FOR TEMPORARY SHIELDING OF REACTOR VESSEL INTERNALS AND METHOD
OF ASSEMBLY--54,692
REACTOR VESSEL ANNEALING SYSTEM--53,611
ANNEALING UNIT INSERTION AND REMOVAL SYSTEM--53,917
HEATING EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION SYSTEM AND METHOD--53,878
TEMPERATURE MONITORING DEVICE AND THERMOCOUPLE ASSEMBLY THEREFOR--54,105
ELECTRIC RESISTANCE HEATER UNIT ASSEMBLY--54,133
REACTOR VESSEL NOZZLE THERMAL BARRIER--53,820
MONITORING AND CONTROL OF REACTOR VESSEL HEAT TREATMENT--54,138
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shipping device constructed particularly
for transporting a heater unit assembly which is to be employed in a
reactor vessel annealing treatment.
The device according to the present invention is based on the structure
disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,228, which issued on Dec. 22, 1987.
That patent was directed to a support structure for use in transporting a
cylindrical container, such as a nuclear reactor component.
It is known that the pressure vessels of nuclear reactors experience a
phenomenon known as embrittlement due to their exposure to neutron
radiation and that the adverse effects of this phenomenon can be reversed
by subjecting the pressure vessel to an annealing treatment. Since it is
impractical to remove such a pressure vessel for transport to an annealing
facility, it has been proposed to transport annealing equipment to the
reactor site.
Certain proposed annealing equipment includes a heater unit assembly which
has the general configuration and size of the interior of the reactor
pressure vessel and is provided with an array of heater units disposed to
effect uniform heating of the pressure vessel. In order to utilize a
heater unit assembly, it is, of course, necessary to transport it to the
reactor site while protecting the assembly against damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping device for
over-the-road transport of such a heater unit assembly to and from a
reactor site.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device which will
store the heater unit assembly in a sealed manner in order to prevent the
assembly from being exposed to moisture and air-borne pollutants which
could cause corrosion or other damage to the heater unit assembly, and to
prevent the escape of any radiation products which the heater unit
assembly may have acquired during an annealing treatment.
A further specific object of the invention is to provide a device which can
be pivoted between a vertical orientation, for loading and unloading the
heater unit assembly, and a horizontal orientation, for transport, and
which is prevented from being inadvertently moved past its vertical
orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a partial, vertical cross-sectional view of a shipping device
embodying improvements according to the present invention, in its vertical
position, with an inserted heater unit being shown in broken lines.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the device of FIG. 1 in its
horizontal position.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view of a portion of the device shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The structure shown in FIG. 1 includes a self-adjustable supporting system
1 secured at the interior lower region of a cylindrical container 3 which
is supported on pivot arms 5 attached to horizontal support rails 7. Pivot
arms 5 are provided with pivot joints 8 (FIG. 2) which enable container 3
to be pivoted between a vertical loading/unloading position, shown in FIG.
1, to the horizontal transport position shown in FIG. 2.
When container 3 is in the vertical position, it is held in that position
by support members 9 which can be detachably secured to rails 7.
Housing 3 is composed of a cylindrical side wall 11 and a flat bottom 13.
Container 3 is closed by a removable cover, or cap, 15.
Side wall 11 of container 3 has an inner surface 17 carrying at its upper
end a circular support beam 19 of square cross section. Beam 19 extends
about the upper region 21 of container 3 and serves to support a heater
unit assembly 23, in a manner to be described in detail below. Assembly 23
has a wall 25 and a dome-shaped bottom 27. Wall 25 has an external surface
29 and heater unit assembly 23 is provided at its upper end with a top
plate 31 projecting radially outwardly from wall 23 at the upper region 33
of assembly 23.
Supporting system 1 includes bracket units 35 installed on external surface
29 of wall 25 and supporting bar units 37 secured to housing 3. Bracket
units 35 include a support ring 39 secured to, or bearing against, surface
29. The structure of supporting system 1, as well as other details of the
container and the support therefor are disclosed in detail in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,714,228.
During movement of container 3 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 1,
which can be achieved with the aid of a lifting device secured to shackles
at the upper edge of container 3, it is possible for container 3 to move
past the vertical position illustrated in FIG. 1, and there could be
difficulty in bringing container 3 precisely to its vertical position,
which is required for safe insertion and removal of heater unit assembly
23. In order to facilitate accurate placement of container 33 in its
vertical position, there is provided, according to the present invention,
a horizontally extending support beam 41 which is positioned and
dimensioned to support bottom 13 of container 3 when container 3 is in a
defined vertical position. Thus, the application of a force which urges
container 3 away from the horizontal transport position shown in FIG. 2
will bring bottom 13 into bearing relation with beam 41, thereby precisely
defining the desired vertical position of container 3.
Container 3 is stabilized in the vertical position by the offset
arrangement of pivot arms 5, as shown in FIG. 1.
A heater unit assembly 23 of the type which is to be received by container
3 should have a defined alignment position when installed in container 3.
The top plate 31 of heater unit assembly 23 is provided, at its periphery,
with alignment openings for permitting the heater unit assembly to be
correctly installed in a reactor vessel.
According to a further feature of the invention, container 3 is provided
with two alignment columns 43 positioned to engage the alignment openings
in top plate 31 in order to correctly align heater unit assembly 23 in
container 3.
Further details of the structure according to the present invention are
shown in FIG. 3. At the top of side wall 11, container 3 is provided with
a horizontal circular plate 47 which rests upon beam 19 and which is
secured to the outer surface of wall 11 by plate 49, which may be welded
to wall 11 and to plate 47. When heater unit assembly 23 is installed in
container 3, top plate 31 rests upon plate 47.
Cover 15 is secured to container 3 by means of bolts 51 extending through
an outwardly projecting flange 53 of cover 15. Flange 53 is defined by a
circular piece of L-shaped cross section welded to cover 15.
In order to reliably maintain heater unit assembly 23 in place, there is
welded to the interior surface of cover 15 a retaining plate 55 which is
located to clamp top plate 31 against plate 47 when cover 15 is secured to
plate 47.
In further accordance with the invention, plate 47 is provided, outside of
the region enclosed by wall 11 and cover 15, with a circular groove
extending from its upper surface and is provided, in the groove, with an
O-ring 57 of a suitable sealing material, such as Neoprene, for
establishing an hermetically sealed joint between container 3 and cover 15
to thereby prevent moisture and atmospheric pollutants from entering
container 3, as well as preventing the escape of radioactive products
which may have been acquired by heater unit assembly 23.
If desired, several concentric grooves and O-rings may be provided, or
other known sealing arrangements can be employed.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present
invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are
intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope
and spirit of the present invention.
The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
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